Wildlife viewing for people with disabilities

Southeastern Region

— Price office: 435-613-3700

• Scott M. Matheson Preserve, located in Moab, has wheelchair accessible features.
• Utah State parks have wheelchair accessible restrooms, campsites, picnic areas and fishing opportunities at many locations.
• U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service and BLM buildings and visitor services are becoming increasingly ADA accessible.

Central Region

— Springville office: 801-491-5678, Salt Lake office: 801-538-4700

• The Central Region office, Salt Lake City office and Lee Kay Hunter Education Facility are all ADA accessible.
• USFS Strawberry Visitor Center and DWR Strawberry River Fish Migration Trap and Spawning Station have a system of boardwalk trails and cement walkways.
• ADA-accessible fishing piers
  • Utah Lake State Park: North jetty
  • Vivian Park Pond: County Park, which is located at the turn off from Provo Canyon road to South Fork Provo River in Utah County
• There are ADA-accessible facilities at
  • Silver Lake at Brighton (USFS): A wooden walkway protects wetlands and provides wheelchair access
  • Salem Pond
  • Big East Reservoir (Payson Lakes — USFS)
• Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge: Located in Dugway, the refuge has two blinds designated for use by mobility-impaired hunters.

Northern Region

— Ogden office: 801-476-2740

• The Northern Region office and hunter safety facility and Cache Hunter Education Center are ADA compliant.
• Hardware Ranch Wildlife Management Area: Physically challenged individuals can view elk at Hardware Ranch.
• Salt Creek Water Fowl Management Area has several handicap-accessible wildlife viewing sites, and continues to be improved.
• Woodruff Cooperative Wildlife Management Area (BLM/DWR 977-4300/479-5143) high desert wildlife may be viewed from turnouts along the highway, bring binoculars.
• Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge has wheelchair-accessible wildlife viewing and fishing locations.
• Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area hosts diverse wetland habitats that are vital for wildlife along the Great Salt Lake. Visitors can view migratory birds in March, May or August.
• Golden Spike National Historic Site has sagebrush and grasslands, which provide habitat for a wide variety of high desert species. Unique species include sharp-tailed grouse, sage grouse, and burrowing owl. More common species include northern harrier, American kestrel, red-tailed hawk, golden eagle, ring-necked pheasant, meadowlark, raven, jackrabbit, badger, and mule deer. Call the visitor center at 435-471-2209 for more information.

Northeast Region

— Vernal office: 435-781-9453

• Most of DWR's Wildlife Management Areas in the Northeast Region have roads that allow wildlife viewing; however, there are no improved facilities in DWR management areas.
• DWR's Diamond Mountain Lakes have concrete boat ramps, ADA-accessible toilets, along with roads and parking lots enabling access for boaters and limited access to the water for anglers. 
• Wildlife through the Ages, a Flaming Gorge-Uintas scenic byway, features interpretive wayside pullouts, trails and wildlife viewing opportunities. Along the Flaming Gorge-Uintas National Scenic Byway, cooperators are in the process of paving about half of the parking lots for this year. Nature trails have been built wide enough and sloped less than five percent so that wheel chairs can traverse them. These are surfaced with a road base mix of sand, clay and gravel. Bathroom facilities at several of these sites are ADA accessible. Plans also include a boardwalk at an undetermined site on Flaming Gorge, which could allow some limited fishing access in the near future.

Southern Region

— Cedar City office: 435-865-6100

• Lake Powell Wahweap Fishing Dock is a covered fishing dock.
• Pine Valley:, USFS 435-574-2949 — The Valley features meadowlands surrounded by ponderosa pine forest and mountain brush and juniper woodlands on the west side of the valley. Mule deer may be observed spring through fall. Jays, woodpeckers, songbirds, cottontail rabbits, red squirrels and chipmunks are common forest residents. American kestrels, northern harriers, and other hawks are also common. From St. George, drive north on Hwy. 18 for 25 miles to Central and turn east onto Forest Road 035. Begin viewing at the Dixie National Forest boundary. Drive 6.5 miles into Pine Valley and continue east another 2.3 miles to the east end of Ponderosa Campground and end of tour.
• Snow Canyon State Park: 435-628-2255 — A scenic canyon in a desert setting which includes some geologically significant sites. Featured reptiles include desert tortoise, gila monster, and other lizards and snakes. Songbirds, including a variety of hummingbird species, are abundant during the breeding season. The probability of seeing a gila monster or tortoise is small. Other species are commonly viewed spring through fall. Note: The desert tortoise is a federally listed species; do not disturb in any way. From St. George, drive north about 11 miles on Hwy. 18 and follow the signs.
• Zion National Park: 435-772-3256 — Paved walks and accessible visitor center. Zion Canyon of the North Fork of the Virgin River is a lush oasis in the harsh, desert environment which provides habitat for a variety of species. The diversity of habitat is enhanced by the 5,000-foot elevation change within the park. Mule deer are common, and bird species include golden eagle, dipper, pygmy owl, turkey, three species of nuthatch, and many more. The rare peregrine falcon and the Mexican spotted owl also inhabit the park. Beaver, antelope ground squirrel, ringtail, and porcupine also may be observed here. Other species include the canyon tree frog and the king snake. Viewing probability for mule deer, beaver, porcupine and a wide variety of songbirds is moderate to high. Species such as the peregrine falcon, Mexican spotted owl, and ringtail cat are rare. Park headquarters and the main visitor center are located on Hwy. 9, about one mile east of Springdale.